Rep Gaetz: Rosenstein's Threats Left Congressional Staff Members "Physically Shaking in My Office" In Fear For Their Families

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein threatened to subpoena emails, phone records and other documents of Republican lawmakers on the House Intel Committee back in January, confirming previous reports

On Tuesday, Fox News Catherine Herridge reported on emails obtained memorializing a January 18, closed-door meeting with DOJ, FBI and House Intel members where Rosenstein threatened GOP-led staffers if they didn't stop their investigation.

Gregg Jarrett tweeted: A 2nd source has now confirmed to me that, in a meeting on January 10, Deputy A-G Rosenstein used the power of his office to threaten to subpoena the calls & texts of the Intel Committee to get it to stop it's investigation of DOJ and FBI.

Likely an Abuse of Power & Obstruction.

A 2nd source has now confirmed to me that, in a meeting on January 10, Deputy A-G Rosenstein used the power of his office to threaten to subpoena the calls & texts of the Intel Committee to get it to stop it’s investigation of DOJ and FBI. Likely an Abuse of Power & Obstruction.

It is a crime for a government official to use his office to threaten anyone, including a member of Congress, for exercising a constitutionally protected right. See 18 USC 242 and other similar abuse of power statutes.

Of course the FBI and DOJ are disputing this account and defending Rosenstein.

The swamp always protects their own.

A DOJ official told Fox News that Rosenstein "never threatened anyone in the room with a criminal investigation." The official said the department and bureau officials in the room "are all quite clear that the characterization of events laid out here is false," adding that Rosenstein was responding to a threat of contempt.

Rep Matt Gaetz (R-FL) said on Wednesday morning he saw first hand what Rosenstein's threats did to Congressional staff members.

Gaetz tweeted: The #DOJ's intimidation & stone-walling tactics have gone too far. I've heard first-hand from congressional staff following threats delivered Deputy AG #Rosenstein. Staff has literally been scared to the point of physically shaking in my office out of concern for their family.

The #DOJ’s intimidation & stone-walling tactics have gone too far. I’ve heard first-hand from congressional staff following threats delivered Deputy AG #Rosenstein. Staff has literally been scared to the point of physically shaking in my office out of concern for their family.

Gaetz continued to hammer Rosenstein over his threats and stonewalling.

On May 1, Rosenstein said “there is actually not a constitutional basis for oversight.” We on the Judiciary Cmte disagree. From refusing to produce documents, to improperly redacting, to threatening our staff, it is clear that Rosenstein will use every tool to frustrate oversight

Gaetz then called for Rosenstein, a person who "improperly signed a FISA application renewal," to recuse himself from investigations into Trump's campaign and behavior of officials at the FBI and DOJ, citing conflicts of interest.

As a person who improperly signed a FISA application renewal, DAG #Rosenstein is intractably conflicted and must immediately recuse himself from investigations into the Trump campaign and the behavior of officials at the @FBI and @TheJusticeDept.